Abdominal Pain

What is abdominal pain?

Abdominal pain is when your child complains that his stomach (abdomen) hurts.

What causes abdominal pain?

Usually stomachaches are caused by something simple like:

Overeating

Gas pains from drinking too much soda

Other types of indigestion

Sometimes a stomachache is caused by constipation. A stomachache may also be the first sign of stomach flu (viral gastroenteritis) and vomiting or diarrhea will soon follow. Other common causes are food poisoning or a urinary tract infection. A common serious cause is appendicitis. Suspect appendicitis if pain is low on the right side and your child won’t hop or prefers to lie still.

Stomachaches that keep coming back (recurrent) can have many causes. The most common causes of frequent stomachaches are stress and worries. Over 10% of children have recurrent stomachaches from stress. The pain occurs in the pit of the stomach or near the belly button. The pain is mild but real. If your child keeps getting stomachaches, talk to your doctor.

How long does it last?

With harmless causes, the pain is usually better or gone in 2 hours. With stomach flu, the stomach may hurt before each bout of vomiting or diarrhea. With serious causes, the pain worsens or becomes constant.

How can I take care of my child?

Indigestion or illness: If your child has a stomachache from eating or illness, use the following guidelines for treatment:

Rest: Your child should lie down and rest until he feels better. A warm washcloth or heating pad on the stomach for 20 minutes may speed recovery.

Sitting on the toilet: Encourage your child to sit on the toilet and try to pass a stool. This may relieve pain if it is due to constipation or diarrhea.

No medicine: Do not give any medicines for stomach cramps unless you have talked with your healthcare provider. Especially avoid laxatives, enemas, and painkillers.

Stress or worry: If your child has already seen a doctor and you know that the stomachaches are from stress or worry, these suggestions might ease the pain:

Help your child worry less. Children who often have stomachaches tend to be sensitive, serious, conscientious, even model children. This can make them more vulnerable to the normal stresses of life, such as changing schools or moving. Help your child talk about events that trigger his pains and how he's going to cope with them.

Make sure that your child doesn't miss any school because of stomachaches. Stressed children have a tendency to want to stay home when the going gets rough.

Teach your child to use relaxation exercises for pain. Have him lie down in a quiet place; take deep, slow breaths; and think about something pleasant. Listening to CDs or audiotapes that teach relaxation might help.

Caution: Your child should have a complete medical checkup before you conclude that recurrent stomachaches are due to worrying too much.

When should I call my child's healthcare provider?

Call IMMEDIATELY if:

The pain is severe AND lasts more than 1 hour.

The pain is constant AND has lasted more than 2 hours.

The pain comes and goes (cramps) AND lasts more than 24 hours.

The pain is in the lower right side of the abdomen or causes your child to walk bent over.

The pain is in the scrotum or testicle.

Your child starts acting very sick.

Call during office hours if:

This is a recurrent problem for your child.

You have other questions or concerns.

Written by Barton D. Schmitt, MD, author of “My Child Is Sick,” American Academy of Pediatrics Books.

This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information is intended to inform and educate and is not a replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.